Overcome My Disability and Reclaim My Life

I had only planned on being out of work for 6 weeks. That was almost 2 years ago. I had surgery on my neck in August 2023 because I have spinal stenosis. The problems started around Thanksgiving 2022. I felt like someone was squeezing me around my waist, and my legs would go numb briefly. Afterwards, I'd be fine. Because of the holidays, I wasn't able to get in to see my doctor until the following January. I was slowly getting worse. I had a harder time keeping my balance; it was like my legs just didn't want to do what I wanted them to, and I started getting pain in my arms. I'd wake up every morning screaming. I eventually made it to Mayfield Brain and Spine Clinic, and they diagnosed me with the stenosis. My last day at work was 2 weeks before my surgery was scheduled. I had anticipated being out of work and set some money aside to live on. Well, right after I went on leave, a debt collector emptied out my checking account. It was for a credit card that was over 20 years old, and my ex-husband was supposed to pay according to the divorce decree. He had just died about 6 months prior, so it fell on me. I have diabetes and had to get my blood sugar down, so the surgery was delayed about 3 months. The surgery itself went well. I don't have pain in my arms like I did, but I've gotten a lot worse walking, sitting, and just getting around. The surgery on my neck didn't help my legs like we hoped it would. I've been bouncing from doctor to doctor and have had more tests done in the past year and a half than I have in my whole life combined. They'll think they have it figured out, but then the test will show something small that shouldn't be affecting me like this, or it'll show nothing. Either way, I'm right back at square one with no answers. I'm in a lot of pain; my muscles cramp up really bad, which makes it even harder to walk, and I have to use a walker or a cane. I'm only 46 years old, and my 95-year-old grandma gets around better than I do. Then, to top it all off, my girlfriend of almost 8 years broke up with me and made me move out. She said that I had become too much of a burden. I didn't ask for this. I wish I knew how to fix it. I miss working. I miss having a life. I miss not being in some sort of pain 24/7. I'm in the process of fighting with social security too. I'm trying. I'm trying my hardest at everything.